Fastest Bowlers to Take 100 wickets in T20 International Cricket: T20 International cricket began approximately 19 years ago, and more than 2400 matches have been played in this shortest format of international cricket. Many superstar players have emerged from these matches, making a unique mark at the international level. Among these superstar players, many bowlers and batsmen have made their names.
When it comes to showcasing brilliance with the bat in T20I cricket, names like Chris Gayle, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma come to the forefront. However, when discussing bowling, names like Lasith Malinga and Rashid Khan are taken first. These are the bowlers who hold the record for being the fastest to take 100 wickets in T20 International cricket. Let’s find out which bowlers have achieved this feat so far.
The names of these players hold the record for the fastest 100 T20I wickets
In reality, only 10 bowlers in T20 International cricket have managed to achieve the feat of taking more than 100 wickets in this format. Some of these players have set this record at lightning speed, etching their names in golden letters in cricket history. So, let’s delve into each of these ten bowlers who hold the record for the fastest 100 T20I wickets.
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Adil Rashid (England) – 100 Matches
In terms of taking the fastest 100 wickets in T20 International cricket, England’s star leg-spinner ranks tenth. He recently took his 100th T20 wicket against the West Indies in Bridgetown, Barbados. Adil Rashid is one of the best performers for the England team in limited-overs cricket. Making his T20I debut in 2009, Rashid has played 104 matches in his career, taking 107 wickets in those 100 matches. His best bowling figure stands at 2 runs for 4 wickets. He ranks fifth in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket.
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) – 90 Matches
Mitchell Santner, counted among the star all-rounders of the New Zealand cricket team, is the ninth fastest bowler to take 100 wickets in T20I cricket. He achieved his 100th T20I wicket against England on September 5, 2023, in Nottingham. Santner has been a remarkable utility player for the New Zealand cricket team across formats. He is also being seen as a potential future captain of the Kiwi team. Making his T20I debut in 2015, Mitchell has played 93 matches in his career, taking 105 wickets in 91 innings. His best bowling figure stands at 11 runs for 4 wickets. He ranks sixth in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket.
Shadab Khan (Pakistan) – 87 Matches
In terms of taking the fastest 100 wickets in T20 International cricket, Pakistan’s prominent leg-spinner, Shadab Khan, stands at the eighth position. Last year wasn’t particularly special for him, but he successfully achieved his 100th T20I wicket against the Afghanistan cricket team in Sharjah. This feat was accomplished in his 87th match. Making his T20I debut in 2017, Shadab Khan has played 93 matches in his career, taking 104 wickets in 88 innings. His best bowling figure stands at 8 runs for 4 wickets. He ranks ninth in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket.
Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 84 Matches
Tim Southee, one of New Zealand’s most lethal fast bowlers, ranks seventh in terms of the fastest 100 wickets taken in T20 International cricket. The right-arm fast bowler Tim Southee is not only among New Zealand’s best but also stands tall among the world’s renowned fast bowlers. On numerous occasions, he has rattled the opposition with his deadly bowling. Southee achieved his 100th T20I wicket against the Pakistan cricket team in Sharjah in October 2021 during his 84th match.
Making his T20I debut in 2008, Tim Southee has played 118 matches in his career, taking 151 wickets in 115 innings. His best bowling figure is 18 runs for 5 wickets. He ranks first in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket. He set the record for being the fastest to reach 151 wickets against the Pakistan team on January 12.
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Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 84 Matches
Bangladesh’s legendary captain, Shakib Al Hasan, ranks sixth in terms of the fastest 100 wickets taken in T20 International cricket. Shakib has made the most significant contribution to elevating the Bangladesh team to a distinct level on the international stage. He achieved this milestone against Australia in his 84th match in Mirpur in August 2021. Making his T20I debut in 2006, Shakib Al Hasan has played 117 matches in his career, dismissing 140 batsmen in 115 innings. His best bowling figure is 20 runs for 5 wickets. He ranks second in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket
Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) – 81 Matches
Mustafizur Rahman, counted among the most lethal fast bowlers of the Bangladesh cricket team, is the fifth fastest bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20I cricket. He achieved this feat against the England cricket team in his 81st match in Mirpur in March 2023. Since making his T20 debut, Mustafizur has become a nightmare for batsmen. Mustafizur made his T20I debut in 2015 and has played a total of 88 matches so far, dismissing 105 batsmen in 87 innings. His best bowling figure stands at 22 runs for 5 wickets. He ranks eighth in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket.
Ish Sodhi (New Zealand) – 78 Matches
Ish Sodhi, the star leg-spinner of the New Zealand cricket team, occupies the fourth position in the list of fastest bowlers to take 100 wickets in T20 International cricket. Sodhi set this record against the Bangladesh team in his 78th match in Christchurch in October 2022. He is considered among the best bowlers for the Kiwi team. Making his T20I debut for the Blackcaps in 2014, Ish Sodhi has played a total of 106 matches, dismissing 127 batsmen in 102 innings. His best bowling figure stands at 28 runs for 4 wickets. He ranks third in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket.
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Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 76 Matches
Former Sri Lankan cricket team‘s fast-bowling legend, Lasith Malinga, was a significant threat to every batsman as long as he played cricket. However, after retiring from international cricket, every batsman seems to enjoy scoring runs against him. Malinga ranks third in terms of taking the fastest 100 wickets in T20I matches.
He achieved this milestone against New Zealand in Pallekele in September 2019. Making his T20I debut for Sri Lanka in 2006, Malinga played his last T20 International match in 2020. During his tenure, he played a total of 84 matches, dismissing 107 batsmen in 83 innings. His best bowling figure stands at 6 runs for 5 wickets. He ranks fifth in terms of taking the most wickets in T20I cricket. Due to his retirement, he will gradually move down the list. He was the first fast bowler to take 100 wickets.
Mark Adair (Ireland) – 72 Matches
In T20 International cricket, Ireland’s fast bowler Mark Adair holds the second position in terms of fastest to take 100 wickets, achieving this feat in his 72nd match and making history. He accomplished this milestone against the Zimbabwe cricket team in Harare in December 2023. Having made his T20I debut in 2019, Mark has played a total of 74 matches so far, dismissing 102 batsmen in 74 innings. His best bowling figure stands at 13 runs for 4 wickets. He ranks tenth among bowlers who have taken the most wickets in T20I cricket.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 53 Matches
Rashid Khan, the eminent leg-spinner of the Afghanistan cricket team, holds the first position for the fastest to take 100 wickets in T20 International cricket. He achieved this remarkable feat in just 53 matches. In October 2021, Rashid reached the milestone of 100 wickets against the Pakistani team in Dubai. The 25-year-old spinner made his debut in 2015, and since then, he has played 82 matches, registering 130 wickets to his name. During this period, his best bowling figure stands at 3 runs for 5 wickets.
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